Top 10 things to eat in Sardinia

You'll find a wonderful range of things to eat in Sardinia. Food is an extremely important part of island life and meals are leisurely affairs; time well spent with friends and family. While many of the dishes are old favourites familiar to any lover of Italian cuisine, from pasta and pizza to gelato and tiramisu, there are also some excellent dishes particular to the island that should not be overlooked.

Top 10 things to eat in Sardinia: local cuisine

Much of what's on offer follows the seasons, as do the numerous food festivals held throughout the year, right across the length and breadth of the island, such as the 'Sagra delle ciliege' celebrating the cherry harvest in June or the chestnut festivals 'Sagre delle castagne' in October. However, most of the dishes from the following list of our favourite things to eat in Sardinia are generally available whatever time of year you visit.

1. Su Porcheddu

Topping the list, slow roasted suckling pig is probably Sardinia's best known dish and is not to be missed. Popular across the island, it is spit-roasted over ancient fireplaces with myrtle and rosemary until the meat is ready to melt in your mouth and the crackling is golden and crispy.

2. Pane Carasau

The wafer thin crispbread also known as Carta di Music (sheet music) is at its best served hot from the oven with rosemary, salt and a little olive oil. This bread was originally created to keep for a very long time, as it was traditionally given to shepherds who spent many weeks, if not months, away from home.

3. Pecorino Sardo

Sardinia has an age-old tradition of cheesemaking, and there are many fine examples to choose from, but this sheep's milk cheese is a firm favourite. It has a rich flavour which sharpens with age and is used grated on top of pasta, in dishes such as Zuppa Gallurese (see below), in bite size chunks with pane carasau or simply with a little local honey drizzled on top.

4. Zuppa Gallurese

A hearty, savoury dish made of layers of bread soaked in a meat broth, interspersed with layers of Sardinian Pecorino cheese and a mixture of herbs such as thyme, mint, basil and parsley. It is finished with a last layer of cheese and baked in the oven until the top is crisp and golden brown.

5. Pani Frattau

Five or six wafers of carasau bread dipped in sheep's broth and sandwiched together with layers of tomato sauce and pecorino cheese, then topped off with a poached egg. A simple dish from the Barbagia region.

9. Fregula Sarda

Another traditional Sardinian pasta where the dough is rolled into tiny balls and lightly toasted, not once, but twice until golden brown, giving it a wonderful nutty flavour. It is served in salads and soups or tossed with olive oil and herbs. It's also excellent used instead of couscous with a Moroccan vegetable stew, a clue to its north African origins.

10. Seadas

These tempting pan-fried pastries are filled with cheese, drizzled in honey and served still warm, so that the melted cheese oozes out onto the plate as you cut into them.

And if you are wondering what to drink with all these fabulous things to eat in Sardinia there are some very special local wines available. With fish try the white Vermentino or Vernaccia di Oristano wines, with red meats and more robust dishes or simply with cheese, the red Cannonau or Carigano del Sulcis are perfect. For dessert, the delicious sweet wine, Malvasia di Bosa is a must try.

No dinner would be complete however, without finishing with a digestive liqueur such as mirto, made from the berries or leaves of the myrtle plant or limoncello made from lemons. The perfect end to your Sardinian feast.